
How do you identify a red maple?
Maple Trees
- Red Maple. The red maple is usually a medium-sized tree with a moderate growth rate. ...
- Norway Maple. The Norway maple was one of the most popular street trees in the United States in the ‘60s and ‘70s.
- Sugar Maple. The tree attains a height of more than 100 feet and a diameter of 3 feet or more. ...
- Silver Maple. ...
- Black Maple. ...
Should a red maple be planted there?
When planting a red maple in the ground, as with most trees, it should be done in the fall. Red maple trees should be planted in a location in full sun and ample moisture in the soil. Putting organic mulch around the tree can also aid in holding in moisture. The red maple is best grown in soil that has a pH of neutral to acidic in the range of 3.7 to 7.0.
What is the life span of a red maple tree?
When compared to other tree species of North America, red maples have a shorter life span; 150 years. The leaves of the Japanese red maple tree stay red-purple until fall, when it takes on a brilliant red appearance. Scientifically, it is known as Acer Palmatum Atropurpureum.
What does red maple mean?
Red maple is a subclimax species that can occupy overstory space but is usually replaced by other species. It is classed as shade tolerant and as a prolific sprouter. It has great ecological amplitude from sea level to about 900 m (3,000 ft) and grows over a wide range of microhabitat sites. It ranks high as a shade tree for landscapes.
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Where are maple trees mostly found?
There are approximately 132 species, most of which are native to Asia, with a number also appearing in Europe, northern Africa, and North America. Only one species, Acer laurinum, extends to the Southern Hemisphere....Maple.Maple Temporal range:Family:SapindaceaeSubfamily:HippocastanoideaeGenus:Acer L.Species12 more rows
Is red maple native to North America?
Acer rubrum, the red maple, also known as swamp maple, water maple or soft maple, is one of the most common and widespread deciduous trees of eastern and central North America. The U.S. Forest service recognizes it as the most abundant native tree in eastern North America.
What climate does red maple grow in?
Temperature and Humidity Red maple can survive in both dry and moist areas ranging from dry ridges to bogs. It can grow on mountainous areas, swampy areas, and along streams. While it does require some cooler weather, it is found as far north as Newfoundland and as far south as the Carolinas.
What is red maple used for?
Red maple is an excellent wood for fuel and is also used for saw timber and pulpwood. But because of susceptibility to defects and disease and poor form of individuals of sprout-clump origin, the timber is often low in quality. The sap of red maple is sometimes used for producing maple syrup.
Do red maples grow in Florida?
Did you know that there are two species of maple trees that will actually grow well here in Florida? The native red maple (Acer rubrum) and Florida maple (Acer saccharum subsp. floridanum) can be grown in the Sunshine State.
Is the maple tree native to Canada?
Ten maple species are native to Canada, perhaps the best known being sugar maple (Acer saccharum) of eastern Canada and the northeastern United States. The Canadian flag displays a stylized maple leaf, and maple is Canada's official arboreal emblem....Maple Trees in Canada.Published OnlineApril 7, 2009Last EditedJune 15, 2021Apr 7, 2009
What states have the most maple trees?
In 2021, the state of Vermont produced over 1.5 million gallons of maple syrup, making it the top producer of maple syrup in the United States. The second leading producer, New York, had a production volume of about 647 thousand gallons of maple syrup in that year.
Can maple grow in hot climates?
Everyone has their own particular microclimate so it is best to provide as much shade as possible when you are in extreme hot areas. It is important to realize that the roots of Japanese maples are shallow growing and will over heat in hot climates. This will show up as leaf scorch just like the sun burning the leaves.
Where do maple trees grow in Canada?
The sugar maple is a species native, primarily, to southern Ontario, Quebec and parts of the maritime provinces, whereas the Manitoba maple has a much wider range and is more common on the prairies.
Is red maple wood expensive?
Pricing/Availability: Should be very moderately priced, though figured pieces such as curly or quilted grain patterns are likely to be much more expensive.
Is red maple always red?
Red maple leaves are green on the top and a light greenish white on the underside, and turn brilliant red in autumn. The leaf stalk and twigs also have a reddish color. Flowers: Small, hanging clusters of bright red flowers appear in spring before the leaves.
Is red maple a hardwood tree?
Red maple, also known as Acer rubrum, belongs to the “soft†maple category, although all maples are hardwoods.
Where is red maple native to?
Fall color can be yellow rather than red, so select a cultivar bred for red fall color. This species is native to the Chicago region according to Swink and Wilhelm’s Plants of the Chicago Region, with updates made according to current research.
Where is Red Maple in Forest Road?
Red Maple (770-38*1) is in the Forest Road. Red Maple (403-83*8) is in the Eastern U.S. Wetlands. Drummond's Red Maple (88-85*4) is in the Eastern U.S. Wetlands. Bowhall Red Maple (130-63*1) is in the Tree Evaluation Plot.
Why are my maple leaves turning pale green?
Chlorosis symptoms (pale green leaves with dark green veins) can be a problem in high pH soil and drought conditions. Maples are considered ‘bleeders’ and are best pruned in early winter or during summer. Red maple does not tolerate heavy pollution. List of pests, diseases, and tolerances: .
What is the color of maple trees?
Red maple is a widely adaptable large tree common to the woods of eastern North America. A red tinge can be found in its flowers, twigs, and seeds, but it is most notable for the scarlet of its leaves in fall. Red maple needs plenty of room for its dense, spreading root system. Fall color can be yellow rather than red, ...
Is verticillium wilt a problem for maples?
Verticillium wilt(fungus) is a potential problem for maples, as well as maple bladder gall, and leaf hoppers. Tolerant of wet sites andblack walnut toxicity. Note: There is much confusion in the nursery trade about red maples and the hybrids of Freeman maple, which is a red maple and silver maple cross.
Where is Red Maple grown?
Cultivation. Mature bark, at Hemingway, South Carolina. Red maple's rapid growth, ease of transplanting, attractive form, and value for wildlife (in the eastern US) has made it one of the most extensively planted trees. In parts of the Pacific Northwest, it is one of the most common introduced trees.
How tall is the largest red maple?
The largest known living red maple is located near Armada, Michigan, at a height of 38.1 m (125 ft) and a bole circumference, at breast height, of 4.95 m (16 ft 3 in). The leaves of the red maple offer the easiest way to distinguish it from its relatives.
How long do red maple trees live?
Red maple's maximum lifespan is 150 years, but most live less than 100 years. The tree's thin bark is easily damaged from ice and storms, animals, and when used in landscaping, being struck by flying debris from lawn mowers, allowing fungi to penetrate and cause heart rot. Its ability to thrive in a large number of habitats is largely due to its ability to produce roots to suit its site from a young age. In wet locations, red maple seedlings produce short taproots with long, well-developed lateral roots; while on dry sites, they develop long taproots with significantly shorter laterals. The roots are primarily horizontal, however, forming in the upper 25 cm (9.8 in) of the ground. Mature trees have woody roots up to 25 m (82 ft) long. They are very tolerant of flooding, with one study showing that 60 days of flooding caused no leaf damage. At the same time, they are tolerant of drought due to their ability to stop growing under dry conditions by then producing a second growth flush when conditions later improve, even if growth has stopped for 2 weeks.
Where can I find Acer rubrum trees?
It can be found from the south of Newfoundland, through Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and southern Quebec to the southwest west of Ontario, extreme southeastern Manitoba and northern Minnesota; southward through Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, eastern Oklahoma, and eastern Texas in its western range; and east to Florida. It has the largest continuous range along the North American Atlantic Coast of any tree that occurs in Florida. In total it ranges 2,600 km (1,600 mi) from north to south. The species is native to all regions of the United States east of the 95th meridian. The tree's range ends where the −40 °C (−40 °F) mean minimum isotherm begins, namely in southeastern Canada. A. rubrum is not present in most of the Prairie Peninsula of the northern Midwest (although it is found in Ohio), the coastal prairie in southern Louisiana and southeastern Texas and the swamp prairie of the Florida Everglades. Red maple's western range stops with the Great Plains where conditions become too dry for it. The absence of red maple from the Prairie Peninsula is most likely due to the tree's poor tolerance of wildfires. Red maple is most abundant in the Northeastern US, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and northeastern Wisconsin and is rare in the extreme west of its range and in the Southeastern US.
What is the most common deciduous tree in North America?
Small. Acer rubrum, the red maple, also known as swamp, water or soft maple, is one of the most common and widespread deciduous trees of eastern and central North America. The U.S. Forest service recognizes it as the most abundant native tree in eastern North America.
How many seeds does a red maple tree produce?
A single tree between 5 and 20 cm (2.0 and 7.9 in) in diameter can produce between 12,000 and 91,000 seeds in a season. A tree 30 cm (0.98 ft) in diameter was shown to produce nearly a million seeds. Red maple produces one of the smallest seeds of any of the maples.
What is the best soil for red maple seeds?
Moist mineral soil is best for germination of seeds. Red maple can grow in a variety of moist and dry biomes, from dry ridges and sunny, southwest-facing slopes to peat bogs and swamps. While many types of tree prefer a south- or north-facing aspect, the red maple does not appear to have a preference.
What color are the leaves on a red maple?
As they first unfurl in spring the leaves have reddish highlights, changing to green as they open. Unlike silver maples, the spaces between lobes on red maples are relatively shallow in depth. The leaves are dark green on the top, with grayish bottom surfaces. Leaf margins are toothed, with pointed tips.
Which is better, red maple or silver maple?
The U.S. Forest Service has identified red maple as the most prevalent tree in the eastern U.S. It grows faster than Norway or sugar maple, but considerably slower than silver maple, making it a better choice in urban landscaping.
What are the problems with red maple trees?
There are no serious insect or disease problems with red maple but they are occasionally susceptible to verticillium wilt, anthracnose, cankers, leaf spot, or tar spot. Aphids, borers, and scale may appear as insect pests. In drought conditions, the trees may exhibit leaf scorch.
What is the color of autumn flame?
Fall colors will be especially outstanding on the 'Autumn Flame' (a red and silver maple hybrid), October Glory, and Red Sunset varieties. A few other popular varieties include: Autumn Blaze: This tree has a rounded form and produces beautiful, long-lasting, orange-red fall foliage.
When do maple trees appear?
From March to May, small red flowers appear. The reddish "helicopter" fruit/seed pods appear in early spring before leaves flesh out. The leaves are two to five inches long, with the classic 3- to 5-lobed structure common to maples.
Do red maples like dry soil?
Red maples prefer somewhat moist soil but will grow fine in dry soils provided you are willing to irrigate them regularly (slow, deep watering is the ideal). Once established, make sure the soil remains moist—a layer of organic mulch around the base of the tree will help.
Is red maple easy to grow?
Red maple is very easy to grow and cultivate, and dozens of different cultivars are available commercially for landscape use . Homeowners should carefully research fall foliage colors and growth habits before making a selection for planting in the yard.
Where is red maple found?
Red Maple ( Acer rubrum) on the John Brown Farm Trails (27 September 2019). Red Maple is one of the most abundant and widespread trees in eastern North America, occurring in a diverse array of ecological conditions.
What is a red maple leaf?
Reds Maple leaves are simple. Simple Leaf: A leaf with a single undivided blade, as opposed to a compound leaf, which is one that is divided to the midrib, with distinct, expanded portions called leaflets. , meaning that each leaf has a single blade.
What causes red maples to crack?
Red Maples can become infected by "target canker.". This is a fungus which causes the bark to crack in concentric circles, forming bullseye-shaped raised plates that look like a target. Keys to identifying the Red Maple and differentiating it from other maples include its leaves, bark, growth habit, and habitat.
How tall is a red maple tree?
Red Maple trees have an erect, single trunk. This species grows 30 to 90 feet tall and up to 4 feet in diameter. Like other maples, the branches of Red Maples are opposite, meaning that the branches are directly across, or opposite, each from other. The twigs and buds of Red Maple trees are reddish.
What color are the leaves on a red maple tree?
The teeth are coarse. When mature, the leaves are dull green and smooth above, lighter green or silvery beneath and more or less hairy. Trees of the Adirondacks: The bark of the Red Maple is smooth and light gray when the tree is young, becoming furrowed and scaly at maturity.
What tree has coarse toothed leaves?
Trees of the Adirondacks: The leaves of the Red Maple are coarsely toothed. Red Maple ( Acer rubrum) on the Heron Marsh Trail at the Paul Smith's College VIC (5 October 2018).
How many lobes does a red maple leaf have?
Red Maple leaves generally have three major lobes. Lobe: A projection from an edge of a plant structure (such as a leaf), larger than a tooth. Lobed leaves are leaves with distinct protrusions, either rounded or pointed. , sometimes with two additional smaller lobes near the base of the leaf.
Where is red maple native to?
It is wide ranging, and native throughout the eastern half of the United States. Red maple can be used for syrup production. However, it tends to bud and flower very early in the season, which has a negative effect on the sap, making the syrup season for the red maple very short.
How tall is a red maple tree?
3 vols. Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York. Vol. 2:495. Red Maple is a deciduous tree that can be 50 to 60 feet tall at maturity. It is wide ranging, and native throughout the eastern half of the United States. Red maple can be used for syrup production.
How to tell if maple samaras are fruits?
Take field glasses (binoculars) out with you so you can see the flowers, which are beautiful dark red, with yellow stamens (sugar maple flowers are green). Pollen release is easy to tell—look on the ground for yellow powder. Some people may not think of maple samaras as fruits, but they are the fruits of maple trees.
What is the difference between a maple tree and a sugar maple?
Fruit: Maple trees produce double samaras (winged seeds), but you may know them as “spinners” or “helicopters” due to their characteristic descent to the ground. Red maple samaras are red, in contrast to those of sugar maple, which are green in spring.
What do maple leaves look like?
Leaves: Maple trees have palmately lobed leaves, which means their leaves resemble the shape of a hand with five lobes that extend in a fingerlike fashion from a central point, similar to palm of your hand. It is easy to confuse red maple with sugar maple.
What color are maple leaves?
Red maple leaves are green on the top and a light greenish white on the underside, and turn brilliant red in autumn. The leaf stalk and twigs also have a reddish color. Flowers: Small, hanging clusters of bright red flowers appear in spring before the leaves.
Do red maple trees have male or female flowers?
Two red maple trees may look different from each other during the flowering period. Red Maples can produce all male flowers, all female flowers, or some of both. Male flowers have long stamens that extend beyond the petal and are covered in yellow pollen at the tips.
Height
This is a medium sized tree up to about 27 metres (90') tall. In a dense forest, the tree trunk is shorter and the crown is rounded.They also tend to be shorter in thick wooded areas.
Flowers
Attractive but small flowers occur in hanging clusters, usually bright red but occasionally yellow. They appear in early spring, usually before leaves.
Fruit
The fruit appears as clusters of 1.25 to 2cm (1/2 to 3/4") long samaras with slighly divergent wings, on long slender stems. The are light brown and often reddish, ripening in late spring and early summer.
Habitat
Native to the northeast US and eastern Canada, this tree also grows throughout the western part of the continent as well as in parts of Europe. It grows on diverse sites from dry ridges to peat bogs and swamps. It commonly grows under the more extreme soil-moisture conditions either very wet or quite dry.
Edible Parts
Seeds are edible but can vary in bitterness depending on the species. Some can be enjoyed raw, the bitter ones can be soaked in water to help remove some bitterness. Roasted seeds are very tasty. The inner bark of maples can be eaten raw or cooked. Leaves are edible although they are best when young.
Where do big leaf maples grow?
The bigleaf maple is a North American tree extending from Alaska to California . The tree turns a yellow-orange color during the fall, but the roots can penetrate sewer pipes and sidewalks. The red maple is a common tree found on the east coast of the United States and Canada.
What is the color of maple trees?
Maple trees are known for their vibrant leaf colors that include brown, yellow, red and orange. For example, the Amur maple is a smaller tree found in Japan, Korea, Siberia and Mongolia. The tree is known for its yellow and red coloring, and it is resistant to drought. The hedge maple is another drought-resistant tree found in Europe ...
What is the best pH balance for maple trees?
Maple trees prefer partially shaded or brightly-lit areas. A neutral pH balance is best for growth. When planting, the soil should be loose and scattered so that the roots can grow and thrive. ADVERTISEMENT.
Overview
Distribution and habitat
Acer rubrum is one of the most abundant and widespread trees in eastern North America. It can be found from the south of Newfoundland, through Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and southern Quebec to the southwest west of Ontario, extreme southeastern Manitoba and northern Minnesota; southward through Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, eastern Oklahoma, and eastern Texas in its western range; and east to Florida. It has the largest continuous range along the North American Atlantic …
Description
Though A. rubrum is sometimes easy to identify, it is highly changeable in morphological characteristics. It is a medium to large sized tree, reaching heights of 27 to 38 metres (90 to 120 ft) and exceptionally over 41 metres (135 feet) in the southern Appalachians where conditions favor its growth. The leaves are usually 9 to 11 centimetres (3+1⁄2 to 4+1⁄4 in) long on a full-grown …
Ecology
Red maple's maximum lifespan is 150 years, but most live less than 100 years. The tree's thin bark is easily damaged from ice and storms, animals, and when used in landscaping, being struck by flying debris from lawn mowers, allowing fungi to penetrate and cause heart rot. Its ability to thrive in a large number of habitats is largely due to its ability to produce roots to suit its site from a youn…
Cultivation
Red maple's rapid growth, ease of transplanting, attractive form, and value for wildlife (in the eastern US) has made it one of the most extensively planted trees. In parts of the Pacific Northwest, it is one of the most common introduced trees. Its popularity in cultivation stems from its vigorous habit, its attractive and early red flowers, and most importantly, its flaming red fall foliage. The tree wa…
Other uses
In the lumber industry Acer rubrum is considered a "soft maple", a designation it shares, commercially, with silver maple (A. saccharinum). In this context, the term "soft" is more comparative, than descriptive; i.e., "soft maple", while softer than its harder cousin, sugar maple (A. saccharum), is still a fairly hard wood, being comparable to black cherry (Prunus serotina) in this regard. Like A. saccharum, the wood of red maple is close-grained, but its texture is softer, l…
See also
• List of plants poisonous to equines
• List of foods made from maple
External links
• "Acer rubrum". Plants for a Future.
• NRCS: United States Department of Agriculture Plants Profile and map: Acer rubrum
• Acer rubrum images from Vanderbilt University
• Portrait of the Earth, Winter ID photos
Uses
Reproduction
- From March to May, small red flowers appear. The trees can be either dioecious (exhibiting either all male or all female characteristics) or monoecious (both male and female characteristics appearing on a single tree). The reddish \"helicopter\" fruit/seed pods appear in early spring before leaves flesh out.
Morphology
- The leaves are two to five inches long, with the classic 3- to 5-lobed structure common to maples. As they first unfurl in spring the leaves have reddish highlights, changing to green as they open. Unlike silver maples, the spaces between lobes on red maples are relatively shallow in depth. The leaves are dark green on the top, with grayish bottom surfaces. Leaf margins are toothed, with p…
Distribution and habitat
- Red maple (Acer rubrum) is a native tree in eastern and north-central U.S. and a member of the Sapindaceae (soapberry) family. The U.S. Forest Service has identified red maple as the most prevalent tree in the eastern U.S. It grows faster than Norway or sugar maple, but considerably slower than silver maple, making it a better choice in urban lands...
Cultivation
- Red maple is very easy to grow and cultivate, and dozens of different cultivars are available commercially for landscape use. Homeowners should carefully research fall foliage colors and growth habit before making a selection for planting in the yard.
Reviews
- This tree works well for adding four-season interest to your yard. The reddish color is not only evident in fall, but also in the spring flowers and stems that are reddish in winter. If you're hoping for a tree with bright foliage, it's best to either buy the tree in the fall (so you can see its coloring in person) or buy from a local nursery that can give you specific information about the tree you're c…
Climate
- Red maples prefer somewhat moist soil but will grow fine in dry soils provided you are willing to irrigate them regularly. Plant them in full sun to partial shade. The tree prefers acid to neutral soils, and won't do well in alkaline conditions.
Prevention
- Once established, make sure the soil remains moista layer of organic mulch around the base of the tree will help. Make sure the tree gets a deep watering each week, either by irrigation or by rainfall; do not let the soil dry out. Fertilization is usually not necessary, but when needed, a general-purpose fertilizer applied in spring is sufficient. Pruning is rarely necessary, but do remo…
Health
- There are no serious insect or disease problems with red maple but they are occasionally susceptible to verticillium wilt, anthracnose, cankers, leaf spot, or tar spot. Aphids, borers, and scale may appear as insect pests. In drought conditions, the trees may exhibit leaf scorch.
Safety
- Be wary of damaging surface roots and bark with lawn equipment. The bark on red maple is relatively thin, and young trees can be damaged by lawn mowers and weed trimmers.